Secondary subjects at VU Amsterdam

Application procedure for secondary subject students

• Step 1: check admission requirements

  Please note the following before applying:

  • Check in the Study Guide whether or not the course is open to secondary students using the filter.
  • Check whether you meet the admission requirements for the course(s) you want to take.
  • For minors, see the minors overview. Some minors have an application deadline.
  • The starting date of the course(s) and minors can be found in the study guide.

• Step 2: register as a secondary subject student

  1. Go to the registration page and select Registration for secondary subject students.
  2. Select the correct academic year.
  3. Enter the requested personal details. You will receive your login details by email, this may take up to 48 hours.
  4. If you have applied at VU Amsterdam before, you already have a VU username (the so-called VUnetID). Is your VUnetID no longer active? Your VUnetID will be reactivated after registration (within 48 hours).

  • Please note: only submit 1 application!
    You will not be enrolled if you register twice.

• Step 3: finalise your application

  1. Log in to your personal dashboard with your VUnetID, go to the Application module and select the app: Complete Application.
  2. Complete your application by going through the entire application form.
  3. Upload the required documents. When uploading your grade transcript, please include the following information:
     - your name
     - the name of your institution
     - the programme you are enrolled in.
  4. Submit the application form.

  Transcripts without mentioning your institution and study programme will be rejected. As a result, you will not be able to complete your secondary subject application. We therefore advise you to obtain a transcript from your student administration. This does not need to be certified.

  Please note: if you want to follow a course at master level, but you do not yet have a transcript to prove that you are a master student, you should upload your Bachelor's degree instead of a transcript.

  Your request will be sent digitally to the faculty after completing your application. The faculty, if you are eligible, will grant permission to take the course(s). You can track the status of your application in the status overview in the Application module.

• Step 4: submit a Proof of Paid Tuition Fees (BBC)

  To be permanently enrolled at VU Amsterdam as a secondary subject student, you need to submit a Proof of Paid Tuition Fees (BBC) for the academic year in which you are taking or will be taking the secondary subjects. If you have already paid tuition fees at another Dutch educational institution, you can request a BBC at your own institution addressed to VU Amsterdam. Please note: this cannot be done via Studielink! This proof should be sent digitally by your educational institution to VU Amsterdam.

• Step 5: check your application

  Please check that you receive confirmation by e-mail about your admission as a secondary subject student. There may be more applicants than places. You can check the status of your application in the status overview in the Application module.

  Please note: your application will not be processed until all documents have been received and approved by the faculty.

• Step 6: register for the approved courses

  You can only register for courses and exams once your application has been completed and you are enrolled as a secondary subject student. You will receive a reminder when a new registration period starts and when a registration deadline is approaching.

  When you apply, you indicate which courses you want to take. After approval, the courses are automatically planned in the registration module, after which you can register for each course. There may be exceptions for specific courses. For example: the faculty sometimes registers you for a work group. You can always check this in the study guide.

  Can't find any courses in the registration module?
  You can only find courses that have been approved by the faculty. Check at the top of the registration module that you have selected the programme 'secondary subject' and the correct year. Make sure the correct data are selected here.

  Course is full?
  Do you get a notification during registration that the course is full? If so, submit a request via this form.

  Other registration questions?
  Contact the Student Desk.

More information for secondary subject students

• Checking results

  Check whether your results are complete and correct. Please send a request for correction to the faculty if any results are incorrect or missing. You can send the request through this form. A certified overview of results can be requested through this form.

• Taking an extra course

  Within the academic year
  If you wish to take an additional course within the academic year for which you have applied, go to your personal page on secondary subjects to add the desired course. If a previous request for an additional course has not yet been approved, you also have the option to remove the request.

  Outside the academic year
  If you want to take an extra/optional course in a future academic year, apply again via the application page and go through the application process.

• Academic advisor

  For any questions about personal academic student counselling and study advice, please go to the academic advisor. Also consult the academic advisor in case of any problems that affect your study progress such as personal issues, study-proficiency problems, study delay, illness, or caring for or worrying about a sick family member.

  Scheduling an appointment
  Students taking courses at VU Amsterdam as a secondary subject student can contact the academic advisor through this contact form. You are also welcome to visit us during the open office consultation hours to see how we can offer guidance.

• Additional exam opportunity

  Would you like to request an additional exam opportunity? Fill in this form and indicate the ground on which you request an alternative examination opportunity. 

• Examination Board

  If there is a serious study delay it is advisable to discuss this with your academic advisor before submitting a request to the Examination Board. The academic advisor can discuss the options with you and advise you when writing your request.

  Submitting a request
  You can submit your request through this form. The response time of the Examination Board is 30 working days from the moment your request is received. Please make sure that you receive a confirmation of receipt after you have submitted a request!

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